Thundersnow: A highlight during Chicago's dreary storm

I know I shouldn't be saying this, but I love the snowstorm we're having. I guess it's easy for me to say since I'm typing this in our warm cozy den but when I just heard "thundersnow" and saw lighting, I felt like I was in the "Wizard of Oz" without the scary parts. It was so cool! On the downside, my dogs are terrified and can't tell the difference between a thunderstorm, which makes them crawl under furniture, or thundersnow which is taking them to a whole new level of fear.

Legendary weatherman WGN's Tom Skilling calls it a "rare occurrence in Chicago" but I'm not so sure since I've heard it a few times now. Here's his description: "Though it is relatively rare in Chicago, it does occur and is called thundersnow, often accompanying powerful winter storms. Snowfall can be intense when accompanied by lightning and thunder, falling at blinding intensities, with accumulations up to 4 inches an hour. Several episodes of thunder and lightning occurred during Chicago’s 2011 Groundhog Day blizzard, and on Dec. 15, 1987, the city was buried by 8 inches of snow in just four hours during a major thundersnow event. Thundersnow can also occur with lake-effect snow, a product of the extreme instability caused by arctic air passing over the Great Lakes’ warmer waters."

Whatever the cause, it's cool and has the twittersphere all abuzz! Where's my book and is it too early for wine?

If you enjoy my posts, please subscribe to Candid Candace here on Chicago Now. Type your email address in the box below and click the "create subscription" button. My list is completely spam free, and you can opt out at any time. You can also find me on Twitter, Facebook, my internet show on Watch312.com, "Candid Candace Chicago" and my blog, CandidCandace.com.